Heated Debate: A Guide to Winning Climate-Control Fights

Ready to win the debate in your car over who controls the thermostat? Using a fistful of thermocouples and an infrared thermometer, we tested a few climate-control features in hopes of settling some disagreements. You're welcome.

Does a car's cabin warm up quicker when the automatic climate control is set to a high temperature? No. Now stop it.

The test: Two BMW M340i sedans at idle with automatic climate control engaged, one set to 72 degrees, the other set to high. Both starting temps are 35 degrees.

Note: The sooner the car's engine warms up, the quicker the cabin warms up. The blue line below shows how driving the car (average speed 39 mph) compares with letting it idle.

Can the interior temperature vary across the front row as promised by dual-zone controls?

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